On Dec. 27, 1939, Wilmette police raided Vista del Lago in No Man’s Land and closed down an illegal gambling operation. This event foretold the demise of a structure that was once home to an exclusive sporting and social club.

It was last Saturday night, Jan. 12, when news broke regarding the tragic death of Illinois State Trooper Christopher Lambert along I-294 near Northbrook. Our sister paper, The Northbrook Tower, was of course reporting the...